Prompting device



Dec. 24, 1957 D. E. SPEARS 7,

PROMPTING DEVICE Filed March 17, 1953,

T0 BROADCAST INVENTOR. 00004555 S in/as BY all? I? TTD/P/VEVS PROMPTING DEVICE Douglas E. Spears, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 17, 1953, Serial No. 342,779

3 Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to a prompting boom for television and radio broadcasts, as well as motion picture productions.

One of the difiiculties in producing television and radio programs or motion pictures has been the prompting of the actors during such programs. Many visual prompting devices have been utilized for this purpose. One of the objects of this invention is to provide means for audible prompting.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for audible prompting which will not interfere with the program being broadcast and which prompting will not itself be broadcast.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boom embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram.

The boom is of the conventional type being pivotally mounted at 12 to a leg 14 which is telescopically received in stand 16 mounted upon suitable wheels 18. A set screw 20 permits vertical adjustment of the boom. The boom is formed of a series of sections such as 22, 24, 26 and 28, each telescopically receiving the next successive section thereby permitting lengthening or shortening of the boom. Suspended from cable 29 is the pick up microphone 30 and a prompting loud speaker 32. The cable 29 is wound around a suitable drum 34 which is rotated to raise or lower the loud speaker and microphone.

Normally the circuit to the microphone 30 is closed so that the words of the actors are broadcast. In Figure 2 a switch 36, which is remote from the boom, is spring U ted States Paten ice urged to a position wherein the circuit is completed to the microphone 30.

When it is desired to prompt, the switch 36 is depressed against the spring 37 opening the circuit to the microphone so that sound on the stage Will not be broadcast, and closing the circuit including the loud speaker microphone 40, amplifier 39 and loud speaker 32. The prompter then speaks into microphone 40 which may also be remote from the boom and the actor hears the prompting through loud speaker 32. When the switch 36 is released by the prompter, the spring 37 urges it to the position wherein the normal broadcasting circuit is closed and the loud speaker circuit is opened.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to Without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are included with in the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A prompting device for broadcasts comprising: a broadcasting circuit including a broadcasting microphone, a prompting speaker positioned adjacent said broadcasting microphone, a prompting microphone, a prompting circuit including said prompting speaker and said prompting microphone, and means for opening said broadcasting circuit upon closing of said prompting circuit.

2. A prompting device for broadcasts comprising: a broadcasting microphone, a broadcasting circuit energizing said broadcasting microphone, a prompting speaker, a prompting microphone, a prompting circuit energizing said prompting speaker and said prompting microphone, and means for opening said broadcasting circuit upon closing said prompting circuit.

3. A prompting device for broadcasts comprising: a broadcasting circuit including a broadcasting microphone, a prompting speaker positioned adjacent said broadcasting microphone, a prompting microphone, a prompting circuit including said prompting speaker and said prompting microphone, and switch means remote from said prompting speaker and said broadcasting microphone opening said broadcasting circuit upon closing said prompting circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,637 Hansen Nov. 15, 1932 1,942,925 Jenkins Jan. 9, 1934 2,545,478 Levy Mar. 20, 1951 

